News. Community. Wellness.

Bobcaygeon

“With an aging population, increasing health care costs and an inactive population, the City of Kawartha Lakes needs to invest in environments that make being physically active the easy choice, while at the same time reducing the environmental footprint. CKL needs to adopt a longer-term vision for how our community is designed and the policies that direct new development.” (City of Kawartha Lakes Integrated Community Sustainability Plan Final Report, April 2014)

The Sustainability Plan was an inspirational document. It saw promoting and enabling active transportation — walking and cycling — as critically important, and called for a decreasing of our dependence on cars.

The preamble to the Active Communities section ends with a vision of transformation: “Connecting communities through safe routes for walking and cycling to school, work and key community amenities . . . can become the way of life in CKL.”

But the Sustainability Plan was meant to be more than inspirational. It included a commitment to “move these words into action.” Around Active Transportation there were sets of actions laid out around four goals, each action given a priority and a timeline.

Communities across the municipality will begin to see makeovers taking place for 17 business and property owners who were successful applicants in the first round of the Million Dollar Makeover funding program. In total, almost $400,000 of the nearly $1,100,000 has been allocated for 2019.

The Molleson family’s future is looking brighter after being selected to own one of two Habitat for Humanity homes being built in Bobcaygeon this spring. Bobcaygeon’s Buffy Molleson and her son and daughter, Ashton (9) and Ocean (8), are Habitat for Humanity’s newest future-homeowners.

To Buffy, it means a way to overcome a previously insurmountable obstacle, and a way to provide a stable home for her children. “I have always wanted to own my own home, I just never had what was needed to get a mortgage,” says Buffy. “I am overwhelmed with appreciation and I am deeply grateful for this chance to better the lives of myself and my children.”

The municipality is undertaking a downtown parking strategy to examine the current and future parking requirements in the downtown areas of Lindsay, Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon. As outlined in the Kawartha Lakes Transportation Master Plan, this study will develop solutions to optimize parking in the defined areas.

In the last several years, demand for downtown parking has increased dramatically. In downtown Lindsay, the average rate of use for parking during peak weekday business hours has increased from 61 per cent in 2014 to 81 per cent in 2018. Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls have also seen increased pressure on parking resources, especially during the busy summer season.

At the special council meeting held yesterday, Kawartha Lakes Council approved the largest Capital Budget in the municipality’s history. The budget includes $47.1 million of investment, more than half of that going toward care of roads.

“The 2019 Capital Budget shows we have turned the corner in Kawartha Lakes. This Council is fully committed to looking after the $3.2 billion of assets we have, while ensuring affordability for our residents. I’m pleased that even with the magnitude of our roads program, upgraded recreational facilities and new park developments, we have been able to set aside capital reserves for the future. Our community will benefit this year, and for years to come, through the projects in this budget,” commented Mayor Andy Letham.

On January 15, the province released proposed changes to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, a key document that governs growth within the municipality of Kawartha Lakes.

City staff and Mayor Andy Letham have been involved in ongoing consultation with Hon. Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and his staff. In August 2018, Letham and partners from Northumberland and Peterborough County led a delegation at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa to put forward local concerns. Other meetings and discussions have taken place throughout the last several months.

The Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce has written a letter in full support of the City of Kawartha Lakes opting in to allow private recreational cannabis stories.

The letter — penned by Chamber President Bob Armstrong — was directed to Ron Taylor, Chief Adminstrative Officer of the City of Kawartha Lakes, and is printed in its entirety here:

The Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce would like to provide this letter in support of the City of Kawartha Lakes opting-in to allow private recreational cannabis retail stores in our municipality. Our organization represents over 330 businesses in Lindsay and the surrounding area.

Over half of the proposed operating budget for the City of Kawartha Lakes is directed to public works and emergency services (29 per cent for each) and another 10 per cent goes to community services. However, almost half – 49 per cent — of the capital budget is to be assigned to “roads and related.”

Council’s first major task will be setting the 2019 budget. The process will culminate in approval of a finalized 2019 operating budget on February 20.

Today the first step for council was taken: Director of Corporate Services Jennifer Stover delivered a Powerpoint “primer” to prepare councillors for their slog through the 218 page Budget and Business Plan.

Lindsay has some well-loved trails that provide recreational opportunities for walkers and bicyclists. But when it comes to getting around town, cars — well, cars, pick-up trucks, SUVs, vans and motorcycles — rule.

While many Ontario communities are embracing pedestrian-first practices and creating infrastructure for cycling, the town of Lindsay remains car-centric, designed for and dominated by vehicles.

From the Kawartha Lakes Health Coalition On April 18 this year The Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) posted a notice in … More

Search

About

The Lindsay Advocate is an online news magazine for Lindsay, Ontario, Canada, focused on the social and economic wellness of the town. While we cover most aspects of community life, we have a particular interest in poverty reduction.